Downtown

Union Station, Downtown, Los Angeles, California

Most people from and around Los Angeles told me that there is not that much to see or do in downtown Los Angeles. Well, up north, not far away from Echo Park you’ll find Union Station – Los Angeles’ train hub. I was there on a sunday afternoon and there weren’t that many people. But then America and especially Los Angeles, basically still runs on cars, not trains.

Union Station, Downtown, Los Angeles, California

Usually, a sun dial is there so that you can read what time it is. Not so for little Captiva, who likes to climb! 😉

Some parts of downtown pretty much look like Mexico. Not that I’d ever been to Mexico, but look at these houses! And then there is the music and the people around me only talking spanish! But that was probably also due to some kind of a mexican ceremony that went on at the Los Angeles Plaza.

Interestingly, downtown Los Angeles didn’t look like a metropolis, like New York City. Probably because there aren’t that many high-rise buildings. But let’s compare facts: The city of Los Angeles covers an area of 503 sq mi (1,302 km2) for a population of 3’928’864. Instead, the city of New York covers an area of 468.9 sq mi (1,214 km2) for a population of 8’491’079. That’s more than twice the amount of people for even less space…!

The Los Angeles Police Department has its headquarters at 100 West 1st Street. In fact, this futuristic building has been their home since october 2009. To tell you the truth, it looks so futuristic that I expected Judge Dredd to walk out of that building and bring some criminals to justice.

Los Angeles Police Department, Downtown, Los Angeles, California

Ironically, the headquarters of the LAPD marked my final stroll through the city of angels. I wasn’t gonna go to jail – no way – but to the airport…

Obviously, there are many more places within Los Angeles that are worth exploring and reporting on. Sadly, I only had three full days to do so. Hence, this is all there was time for. Look at it from the bright sides; this gives me plenty to explore the next and I know, I’ll be back.